How can we heal our flawed economy Part 3

I have written of the many flaws in our current economic system, and looked at the alternative proposals of a Binary economics, (promoted by Rodney Shakespeare et al), a relational economics, from the Jubilee Centre, and now I come to a third way, an "earth based" economy.

This model is based on the natural cycle seen in nature whereby everything is reused or recycled, everything in the cycle has a use or purpose, there is a mutual dependency where nothing is wasted and where there is a balance of cooperation and competition between organisms.

A lovely example of this mutuality is seen with the life cycle of the fig wasp and the fig fruit. Each species of fig tree relies on a particular species of wasp for the pollination of its flowers, within the fruit structure. The larvae of the wasp are then nurtured to maturity within the fig fruit.

This "earth based economy" idea originated within The Social Venture Network (SVN), founded in 1987 by Josh Mailman and Wayne Silby, as a non-profit network committed to inspiring ‘a community of business and social leaders to build a just economy and sustainable planet.’ In 2001 the Network published an important Collaborative Working Document, titled The Path to Living Economies, (now to be found on the Living Economies Forum website, the "online home of David Korten, author, lecturer and "engaged citizen." see below)

Within this document many concepts representing the life’s work of an array of different authors have been brought together into a valuable summary within a framework of the perceived urgent need for a Living Economy: ‘a social and economic system that is sustainable, equitable and cooperative.’ This would incorporate systems based on fair profit as against maximum profit and businesses described as ‘not for profit living enterprises’ that are ‘place-based, human-scale, stakeholder-owned, democratically accountable, and life serving’; that would function as ‘communities of people engaged in the business of creating just, sustainable and fulfilling livelihoods for themselves and their communities.’
The SVN paper makes for fascinating and informative reading. The basic thesis of the paper should sound familiar by now to followers of my blog; that a system geared entirely towards the maximizing of profit for the few at the expense of many is fundamentally flawed.

The SVN Paper argues that to ensure the survival and fulfillment of humans we must foster again that same balance and sustainable cycle, seen in nature, and starting with individuals and communities. Since publication the movement has come a long way, indeed positively flourishes, and there is much much more on David Korten's website, including, and most importantly, a valuable paper on How to Get Involved. I urge my readers to have a look at this excellent resource for making change happen.


David Korten is the author of Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth
which "offers more in-depth advice on how to mount a grassroots campaign to bring about an economy based on locally owned, community oriented “living enterprises” whose success is measured as much by their positive impact on people and the environment as by their positive balance sheet."



 © Eleanor Stoneham 2011

Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living

When we eat into our capital investments, everyone knows that the income from those investments will decline. Over the longer term it is dangerous to do this. We run out of the resources that enable us to live. But that is what we are doing to the earth.
I read somewhere, cannot remember where, that the maximum ecological footprint we should leave from our activities is 1.8 hectares per annum, but we are using up 2.2 hectares - eating into our capital investment. We cannot continue to do this if we want a long term future on God's earth.

Of course we are getting better at recycling, reusing, being more economical with our energy usage, etc etc. But "The fact remains that without Government intervention, these (measures to address climate change) are likely to remain disconnected, piecemeal and ultimately insufficient...Personal efforts, when not secured by Government intervention, are likely to pove ultimately ineffectual."

This quote comes from a fine book I have on my shelf: Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living by Nick Spencer and Robert White, (2007, SPCK), of the Jubilee Centre. In spite of the title, this book is written, as stated in the Preface, for Christians and non Christians alike, as a "uniquely holistic response to the problem of climate change."

After revisiting the nature of the problem, the book then explores the biblical perspective of sustainable living, and concludes with 3 chapters on how Christians can and must respond, emphasising the unique position of global faiths to tackle global problems.
This is not only a fine theological journey through the links between faith, religion and climate change, it is also a very practical book, full of what we are doing and what we can and must do.
Whilst government intervention is all very well and good, I fear that too many of us expect such interventions to solve every ill of society without accepting our own personal responsibilities. And Christians have a huge responsibility to lead on these issues. If we fail to care for the things that God cares about, we are surely failing to love God.

Another book that has come out more recently is Creation in Crisis - Christian Perspectives on Sustainability, edited by Robert S White, a fine collection of essays by both distinguished scientists and theologians.
Why, the blurb asks, is so little being done to save our planet. Because, it points out, "we do not want to face up to the fact that the material comforts we enjoy are bought at a cost to other people and to the natural world. This volume highlights the seriousness of environmental degradation and climate change, the root causes and possible solutions, and the contribution of Christian thinking to these issues."

13 years ago Hugh Montefiore, former Anglican Bishop of Birmingham UK, wrote a gem of a little paperback: Time to Change - Challenge for an Endangered Planet, a book designed to stir people to action and commitment to saving the environment, illustrated throughout with biblical readings and notes for reflection. Towards the end of his life, Montefiore was so dismayed with the lack of Christian action on these issues that he moved his allegiance to the Friends of the Earth, where he was chairman for several years. His book is still available and still worthy of a read.

So much science, so much data, so much evidence, so much need to live simpler lives so that others may simply live.

When are we all going to wake up and start living those simpler, more sustainable lives? For God's sake?